{
  "id": 18088636,
  "title": "Cooking for a crowd? A chef’s guide to scaling a recipe without losing flavour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/cooking-for-a-crowd-a-chefs-guide-to-scaling-a-recipe-without-losing",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/food-and-drink/a-chefs-guide-to-scaling-a-recipe-without-losing-its-flavour/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cooking for a large crowd can be challenging when it comes to maintaining the dish's flavor. Chef Latoya Marivate of Unilever Food Solutions explains that scaling a recipe is not simply about multiplying the quantities. The chef emphasizes that understanding what gives the dish its essence is crucial. This could be a slow simmer, a specific spice blend, a crunchy element, a sauce, or a heritage ingredient that needs to be preserved.\n\nThree common pitfalls in scaling recipes are seasoning, cooking times, and raising agents. Seasoning, such as salt, spices, or acids, does not scale linearly and should be added gradually while tasting and adjusting. Cooking times also change with larger volumes, affecting protein and delicate items differently. Lastly, the use of raising agents like yeast, baking powder, or soda should be carefully adjusted to prevent the dish from rising too quickly or losing its texture.\n\nTo prevent the dish's flavor from flattening when cooked in bulk, Marivate suggests building the flavor in layers. Start by browning, roasting, marinating, or seasoning the ingredients, and then finish with intention. Choosing ingredients that hold well and can wait for their moment also helps maintain the dish's quality. Delicate greens and crispy garnishes should be used sparingly, while hardy root vegetables offer substance and cultural relevance.\n\nAdding a contrast at the end of cooking enhances the dish's brightness and texture. This could include a crisp topping, fresh herbs, pickled elements, toasted seeds, or a punchy sauce. The example given is the 'umleqwa' broth with stuffed dumplings and crackling, which combines traditional free-range chicken, slow-simmered vegetables, tender stuffed dumplings, and crisp crackling. By understanding the heart of the dish and sharing its story, cooks can create memorable dishes for any crowd, whether at home or in professional settings.",
  "summary": "Cooking for a crowd this festive season? Chef Latoya Marivate explains how to scale a recipe without losing what makes it special.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}